Murkle


Murkle is a small scattered hamlet, made up of East Murkle and West Murkle located east of Thurso, in Caithness, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.

Name

The name Murkle derives from the name Morthill, meaning Field of Death, so called because it was the site of a battle with the Danes in the early medieval period.

Sinclairs of Murkle

Members of Clan Sinclair associated with Murkle are as follows:
The original estate of Murkle, as possessed by James Sinclair, his wife Elizabeth Stewart, and their son, Sir James, was acquired at various times between 1586 and 1637, from four main sources: George, fifth Earl of Caithness; his son William, Lord Berriedale; the Bishops of Orkney and Caithness; and the Earls of Sutherland. The estate held by Sir James Sinclair consisted of Murkle and Clairdon; one half of Ormlie, Thurdistoft, Acharascal, and Carnabiud, Lybster, and Borrowstone, all held of the Earl of Caithness; one half of Ormlie, held of the Bishop of Caithness; Pownreay, held of the Bishop of Orkney; and Broynach, held of the Earl of Sutherland. In the eighteenth century, the family also acquired Isauld and Brubster and Brims.

Legends

It is said that a mermaid once fell in love with a local fisherman, who to this day holds him captive in a nearby loch.
It is also said in the 9th chapter of the Orkneyinga saga that "Ragnhilda, king Eric's daughter" had a husband called Arnfinn, the fifth son of Thorfinn the Earl. Arnfinn died at Murkle in Caithness leaving Ragnhilda a widow.